DAIRY FUNCTION 277 



The digestive system and the mammary system are 

 indirectly related to the production of muscle which 

 constitutes the food product in the block animal. This 

 fact is emphasized in the spare form and the nervous develop- 

 ment of the dairy animal which shows that the feed eaten is 

 not stored on the body, but rather manufactured into milk 

 through the digestive, circulatory, and mammary systems. 

 The large capacious barrel for feed consumption, the strongly 

 developed circulatory system indicated in the eyes, chest, and 

 general vigor displayed by the animal and the well-developed 

 mammary system are the three vital attributes for the 

 maximum production of milk. 



A strong constitution indicates durability and vitality, 

 which are essential in any animal, constantly drawing 

 on its own food resources. A strong blood circulatory 

 system indicates health, vigor, and the proper distribution 

 of the digested materials taken from the feed, while a large 

 and well-developed mammary system is indicative of a 

 capacious manufacturing plant for milk elaboration. When 

 these factors or parts of the animal are properly developed 

 they form distinguishing features of unusual significance. 

 The wedge-shaped form of the dairy cow is significant in 

 its indication of capacity, mammary development, and 

 nerve force or nerve temperament. Each part of the 

 animal has its own important part in milk production. Any 

 one part removed or impaired would seriously impede the 

 milk-productive capacity and otherwise injure the delicate 

 mechanism of the animal. 



Dairy Function. The primary function of the dairy cow 

 is to produce milk, and the secondary function to reproduce 

 herself. Her ability to accomplish these purposes depends 

 on six fundamental points of development. These are dairy 

 form or type, constitution, capacity, nervous temperament 

 or nerve force, the mammary system, and circulatory devel- 

 opment. A proper correlation of these factors is necessary 

 for an animal to produce to its maximum capacity. The 

 fundamental factor is capacity for food consumption. If 

 an animal is limited in its ability to consume food the final 

 product or milk-producing capacity is limited likewise, as 



